Players would like O'Neill, says Given

Shay Given said yesterday that he would like Martin O'Neill to become the next Newcastle United manager. "I would love to see him come on board," Given said. "Martin did a fantastic job at Celtic. Even at Leicester he won a cup and who would have thought that? He has a fantastic CV, is a fantastic guy and he loves his football. If someone like Martin came in, it would be very exciting." Given, the most senior Newcastle player after Alan Shearer, added that his was not an isolated opinion among the squad. "There would be dressing-room support for Martin O'Neill. I am Irish, so maybe I am speaking out of turn, but I would think the general consensus is that they [the players] would be very pleased if Martin O'Neill came in and took over. "He is very passionate, he knows his stuff, he is very thorough in everything he does. He won a lot of trophies at Celtic."

O'Neill, also interesting the Football Association as Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor with England, was at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday to see Newcastle in the flesh. It is understood he has already had some contact with the St James' Park hierarchy.